The family of the teenager that was allegedly paid £35,000 for explicit photos by the disgraced BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards say it was ‘immoral’ for him to continue to receive his salary while suspended and doubt that he will return it.
On Friday, the corporation said the BBC board has ‘authorised the executive to seek the return’ of Edwards payments from his November arrest to April, when the 62-year-old resigned on medical advice.
On July 21, Edwards – who earned more than £200,000 during that period – pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.
The corporation said if Edwards had ‘been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money’ and added he had ‘undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute’.
Last year, a separate allegation in the Sun saw Edwards accused of paying a teenager £35,000 for photos, and he was later named as the BBC presenter at the centre of the media furore.
Huw Edwards arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 9, 2024
Court artist drawing of Huw Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children
The family of the unnamed young person originally complained to the BBC in May 2023, and the corporation apologised earlier this year over the handling of the complaint.
The young person’s stepfather told Saturday’s edition of the Sun: ‘He shouldn’t have been paid when suspended, let alone being paid for five months more after they knew he had been arrested.
‘It’s immoral. I don’t think he will willingly pay it back though.’
The stepfather previously shared a video with the newspaper that he filmed of Edwards waiting for the alleged victim at a Welsh train station.
Police found no evidence of criminal behaviour in the matter.
The unnamed teenager told the Mirror newspaper this month that he felt ‘groomed’ by the broadcaster and ‘sick’ after learning he was charged with child sex crimes.
The corporation said if Edwards had ‘been up front when asked by the BBC about his arrest, we would never have continued to pay him public money’ and added he had ‘undermined trust in the BBC and brought us into disrepute’
On July 21, Edwards – who earned more than £200,000 during that period – pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children
In July, a court heard Edwards had been involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, who sent him 377 sexual images, of which 41 were indecent images of children.
A statement from the BBC on Friday said: ‘Whilst the nature of the charges against Mr Edwards is related to his own personal life, the board believes these events have also put a spotlight on the question of power imbalances in the workplace.
‘We remain concerned about the potential for inappropriate workplace behaviour, particularly in creative and editorial environments.
‘Whilst challenges related to power imbalances in the workplace are a challenge for multiple employers, the BBC must hold itself to the highest standards.’
Edwards is surrounded by camera men and police as he leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Court artist drawing of Edwards appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
It also announced the board has commissioned an independent review that will ‘make recommendations on practical steps that could strengthen a workplace culture in line with BBC values’ .
The corporation will set out terms of reference and leadership of this review in early September.
The Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who previously called for Edwards to return his salary, welcomed the independent review, and said: ‘BBC staff must be able to feel safe in the workplace and be confident that if non-editorial complaints are raised they will be acted upon and dealt with fairly and decisively.’
The BBC previously said after Edwards’ guilty plea that if he had been charged while he was still an employee it would have sacked him.
It was aware in November of his arrest on ‘suspicion of serious offences’.
Edwards is next due to appear in court in September.